VOGONS

Dear GOG …

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First post, by Aui

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…I assume you have heard of this forum. I even suspect you will read (or even write?) here on occasions. So let me start by saying your work is awesome and much appreciated. Like many users in this forum, I love those good old games even knowing that I may never have the time to play them all (for me it is the same with books – if someone lends me a particularly nice book or I find one at the library – I may actually buy it afterwards – silly, I know). I am putting up a request here that has come up in your own forum many times, so it is just a reminder:

Please provide original files and disk images with a GOG purchase. I know that there is a variety of ways to extract them from the installers but that’s not for everyone. In addition – such versions may also have missing copy protection (Yes – I want those too), special graphic modes, rare language versions etc (and who knows what works once we all have upgraded to Windows 17). I also know that this won’t be possible for all games due to complicated copyright / separate soundtrack situations but for most of them I imagine its possible. Especially with the GOG preservation program this would be an awesome bonus so the software can be used both on modern hardware and also on old hardware.
Here is an excerpt from your own webpage:

Please
- Include a "Legacy" folder for download, which can include floppy disk images, CD-ROM images (Bin/Cue), and/or original installers.
- Include an EULA that describes that the files contained in the folder are not supported by GOG and are provided solely for historical context.
- Whenever possible, include any official patches.

Thank you

Reply 1 of 10, by butjer1010

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Most of us would love this "feature", but i don't think it will happen'.... I would be the first one who would store all those games on floppies or CDs, because i'm in love in physical copies of old games, but i don't see that time will ever come 🙁

Reply 3 of 10, by momaka

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MrFlibble wrote on 2025-05-15, 14:32:

Can someone please explain why an address to GOG is posted here, exactly? Are VOGONS somehow affiliated with GOG?

No.
But I imagine such post might get straight-up deleted on GOG? (Or maybe not?)

That said, I don't got the time to wait for some company to listen to my requests for stuff like this. If I have (legally bought) the game already on Steam or Epic, and if it's an old(er) game that was also (or originally) released on CD/DVD, then I usually just torrent the damn thing (to use on my older PCs that can't run Steam or Epic launcher) and call it done.

Reply 4 of 10, by The Serpent Rider

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I see no good reason for GOG to provide more often than not DRM protected ISOs. They could provide FLAC audio CD rips when it's applicable though, as an extra.

I must be some kind of standard: the anonymous gangbanger of the 21st century.

Reply 5 of 10, by Aui

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I just read an article about why the release of "historic" sourcecode has value.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/09/micro … asic-from-1978/

I feel the same about the actual original software. Its great to have a convenient win11 installer, but the original release remains something special and important .

Reply 6 of 10, by Joseph_Joestar

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While I share the sentiment, the proper place to post that is:

https://www.gog.com/forum

PC#1: Pentium MMX 166 / Soyo SY-5BT / S3 Trio64V+ / Voodoo1 / YMF719 / AWE64 Gold / SC-155
PC#2: AthlonXP 2100+ / ECS K7VTA3 / Voodoo3 / Audigy2 / Vortex2
PC#3: Core 2 Duo E8600 / Foxconn P35AX-S / X800 / Audigy2 ZS
PC#4: i5-3570K / MSI Z77A-G43 / GTX 980Ti / X-Fi Titanium

Reply 8 of 10, by jh80

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Aui wrote on 2025-09-06, 06:36:

I just read an article about why the release of "historic" sourcecode has value.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/09/micro … asic-from-1978/

I feel the same about the actual original software. Its great to have a convenient win11 installer, but the original release remains something special and important .

Let's be honest: GOG is first-and-foremost a business. Their main focus is on providing DRM-free games that "just work" on modern platforms. I doubt they're ever going to make an appeal to the tiny fraction of customers that use original hardware.

If you're interested in the preservation of original media or source code, I wouldn't place many expectations on a for-profit business. There are some fan-led preservation efforts that are worthy of praise, though (but I guess we can't talk about that here). And NPOs like the Video Game History Foundation.

Reply 9 of 10, by badmojo

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The fact that GOG manages to provide games DRM free is good enough for me.

Life? Don't talk to me about life.

Reply 10 of 10, by chinny22

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jh80 wrote on 2025-09-06, 10:45:

Let's be honest: GOG is first-and-foremost a business. Their main focus is on providing DRM-free games that "just work" on modern platforms.

Agreed, and I am enternally greatful for this. I accept physical media is all but dead, but at least DRM free means if you plan ahead you can have offline installers for versions of windows that have gone EOL.
eg Steam no longer supporting Win XP/7 even though the games themselves do.

While I'd love it if GOG did do this, I'd think the original image files is more someting like archive.org would host

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